Quick Look

Projects related to Botanical Gardens, Zoological Gardens Departments:

Expedite work, urges minister

Disna Mudalige

Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Minister Jayaratne Herath yesterday instructed officials to expedite work on the ongoing development projects related to the Departments of National Botanical Gardens and National Zoological Gardens.

The minister chairing a progress review meeting at the ministry premises said the delay of the new projects launched by these departments result in the deprivation of a large income to the government.

The new projects include the Zoological Gardens in Wagolla in Pinnawala, Ridiyagama Safari Park in Hambantota, Ecopark in Kahapola, Piliyandala, Botanical Gardens in Mirijjavila, Hambantota, and Wet Zone Botanical Gardens, Awissawella.

The new projects once completed are expected to attract a large number of local and foreign visitors, and generate a large income.

The minister instructed officials to complete the construction work of these projects according to the stipulated time frame.

The issues related to the take over of land for these projects and the progress of the projects’ future plans were discussed at the meeting.

Labour and Labour Relations Minister Gamini Lokuge also participated in the meeting.

Blight affects cashew cultivation

A A L Dias, Matale district group corr

Cashew cultivation in the Matale district has been affected with blight.

Over 3,000 acres in the district have been used for cashew cultivation and the harvest has been reaped from over 2,500 acres. However, cultivators fear that due to this disease, their crops will be affected.

They said they have not received instructions from authorities on curbing blight.

They request the authorities to look into this issue.

Power pirate shocked

Nimal Jayasinghe - Gampaha Roving

A man who allegedly tampered with an electricity meter to pirate electricity was fined Rs. 10,000 by Gampaha additional magistrate Indika Shehan Attanayaka. He also ordered the suspect to pay Rs. 88,620 to the electricity board.

The suspect was produced by the Gampaha Electricity Board.

President visits RIT Alles in hospital

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last afternoon visited the R.IT. Alles who is receiving medical care at a Private Hospital in Colombo.Alles, the Founder and Principal of the D .S. Senanayake Vidyalaya, Colombo for 25 years and a Deputy Principal of Royal College, Colombo has been commended for his contribution in the field of education. One of the leading educationists in the country, R.IT. Alles also served as State Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry from 1989 to 1993. Alles is the father of MP Tiran Alles, states a media release from the President’s Office.

Seminar

A seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Travel Journalists Association on the forward march of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka will be held at the National Library and Documentation Services Board Auditorium, Colombo 7 on May 7 at 4pm.

It will be chaired by University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson Professor Kshenika Hirimburegama while Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Chairman Bhashwara Senaka Gunarathna will deliver the keynote lecture on the theme ‘Future strategies of the tourism development in Sri Lanka’.

Representatives from various fields connected to the travel and tourism industry will participate in this event. A book titled “Sri Lanka tourism industry’ s challenges and expectations” authored by Divaina journalist Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta and Lakbima Journalist Pathum Wickramarathna will released on the same day.

Fined for dumping garbage

Nimal Jayasinghe Gampaha Roving

Four persons were fined for dumping garbage on the road by Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika Shehan Attanayaka.

The suspects were produced by the environmental unit of Gampaha police. They were fined Rs. 5,000 each.